Review: Babylonia by Costanza Casati

Babylonia by Costanza Casati
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I was a huge fan of Casati's [book:Clytemnestra|61361681], and this has that same slower paced build up and similar world building style that I enjoyed so much.  The author took great care to ensure that the historical aspects of the real people and events in the book were portrayed to the best of her ability and that her characters felt real.  Her writing is descriptive and doesn't hold back when we get to the battle scenes.  In her author's note she explains her research and where she took liberties with this retelling.

Much like in Clytemnestra, we get another strong willed female lead in Semiramis who makes her own way in the male dominated world she lives in and captivates the men around her to establish her own future and power.  We get to see Semiramis rise from a mistreated orphan to the ruler of an empire.  She had goals and ambitions, and she wasn't afraid to go after them.  

This book is full of political posturing, the court reminded me of King's Landing from Game of Thrones where everyone has their own goals and will stab their neighbor in the back to get what they want.  There is war, love, death, betrayal, guilt, and so much more going on but the author does a great job stringing everything together.

I really enjoyed this but I wasn't as drawn into this book as I was Clytemnestra.  I enjoyed the narration and felt the narrator did a great job telling the story.  If you enjoy mythology and retellings this is well written and well researched.  

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